Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits

One day, strangers cameShouting slogans of endless shameNo time to wonder, life was preciousPushed out of the door of the house we made

Landed to an unknown spaceCold, shattered, penniless, but life remainedThen rose the morning sun and with that our struggle began

Food, water, and shelter were no longer necessitiesThey were bigger than luxuries and caused immense painBy and by life returned to normalBut life was never the same

Neighbours, friends, relatives, and strangers in painAll were the sameI thought to myself what had remainedAll lost, nothing regained

Years later, we flourishedIn a new city amongst new people, we had a placeYet the feeling of anonymity, loneliness remainedI felt ashamed

Abandoned, unwanted and violently pushed awayAbandoned, unwanted and violently pushed awayEnough to kill the feeling of belongingness and worthBut the human spirit remained

When I think of Kashmir and battas today,I stop my tears from rolling away,Not because I am any less a KashmiriBut because Kashmir is in unending pain

Returning to our homeland seems like a far-fetched dreamReturning with pride, dignity and honour seems even further awayNevertheless, the quest has begun and is growing stronger each dayThere will come a time, when the presence of Kashmiri Pandits is celebrated in the Kashmir valley again.